Treatment for:
Diagnosis of disease
Why it’s done:
Definitive diagnosis of disease often requires obtaining a sample of the tissue of interest for pathologic examination.
How it’s done:
An interventional radiologist uses CT or ultrasound to pass an introducer needle into the tissue of interest. Once position is confirmed, a biopsy needle is passed through the introducer needle and used to take samples until adequate tissue is obtained.
Level of anesthesia:
Conscious sedation or local anesthesia only
Risks:
Bleeding, infection, and damage to intervening structures
Post-procedure:
One to four hours of bed rest, depending on the site of biopsy
Follow-up:
With referring physician